Theophile masac



THEOPHILE MASAO, OF AGOOD HOPE PLANTATION, LOUISIANA.

Letters Patent No. `103,637, dated May 31, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-BOATS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it mag/coucern Be it known that I, THEOPHILE MAsAo, of Good Hope Plantation, in the parish of St. Charles and State vof Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Life-Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, 4in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved life-boat, closed up for storage or transportation.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, one end being shown extended and the other closed up.

Figure/lis a top view of the same, fully opened up.. v

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved life-boat, strong, simple in construction, and eective in use, and which shall be so constructed 'that it may be closed'up into small compass, adapting it to be taken by the passenger into his private cabin, and kept stocked, ready for an emergency; and

It consists in the construction and combination of the various parts of the'boat, as hereinafter-more fully described.

l A represents the central part or body of the boat, which is made ot' sheet-iron, and which may be strengthened upon the inside by wooden timbers, when required.

B are the ends of the boat, which are made of metal'bands, shutting into each other in the manner of a telescope, said bands having catches formed upon their edges, which, when extended, interlock with each other, as shown in iig; 3, making the ends ofthe boat strong and Stiff, and, at the same time, giving them the requisite taper.A

'The outer or pointed bands, which form the extreme ends ofthe boat, are provided with hooks b', for convenience in extending the boat, when required.

The inner or larger bands, which are next to the body A, are made solid with the end walls of the said body A.

The entire ends B, and the sides and bottonrof the blody A, are covered with rubber or other water-proof c oth.

C is the keel, which may be made of wood, and the middle part,'which is notched to receive the ballast- `ing weight D, which is made of iron, and is suspended by a rope, E, passing down through a hole in the`bottom of the bodyA, as shown in fig. 3, so that the ballasting-weight D may bc raised and lowered, as required. i

In calm weather the weight D may be raised into the position shown in fig. 1, and when the water is rough, it may be lowered, as required.

The rope E is secured to belayingpins or cleats, attached to the front of the locker or seat F.

The top ofthe seat F is hinged at its rear edge, and should shut down air-tight, so that the seat may serve as a locker for the storage of provisions, signal-lights, valuables, 85o., and, at the same time, as an air-chamber to increase the buoyancy ofthe boat'.

G are the covers of the body A, which are hinged with leather or equivalent hinges, at their outeredges, to the upper edges ofthe sides of the body A.

By this construction the covers G, when opened out, will float upon -the surface of the water, and serve as wings or outriders tothe boat, to assist in keeping it right side up in a rough sea. The coversG may also be connected to the sides of the body A, by rubber straps, to hold them close up against the sides oi the boat, when floating in the water.

I prefer to make the covers G of plates of cork of suitable thickness to give them greater buoyancy, and they maybe faced with light sheet-metal, to give them strength. The covers G, when thus floating in the water, may also, serve in case of shipwreck, for persons in the water to grasp,and be supported.

H is a plate, sliding into a recess at the rear ofthe seat F, which maybe drawn up, as shown in fig. 3, to. support the back of the person sitting upon the said seat F.

I are the oar-locks, which are hinged to the innel'A When required for use, the mast is passed through a hole in the hinged plate L, audits lower end is inserted in a hole iu the bottom or keel of the boat, and' the sail M is attached to it in the ordinary manner.

The boat may also be provided with a shovel, N, hung from a nail or hook attached to its inner surf face, and with a sponge and other necessary articles.

' The forward part 'of the body A of the boat may also be provided with a compass, as indicated at O in gs. 3 and 4. p

The covers G, when closed, may be secured with bolts or other convenient detachable fastenings, and

should be provided with handles P, for convenience in carrying the boat, when required.

The boat may be built small, for a single person, or may be built larger, to carry two or more, as may be required.

Having thusdescribed my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure byv Letters Patent* 1. An improved life-boat, formed by the combination cf the central part; o1' body A. and extension ortelescopic ends B with each other, the whole being covered with a water-proof covering, substantially as herein shown and ldescribed and for the purpose set Ort y 2. The buoyant covers G, adapted to serve 'as oating Wings or outrdersin combination with the boat A B, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

THEOPHILE MASAG. Witnesses:

W. M. PLNCKARD, N. DAUNOY. 

